If you’re wondering what to serve with your polenta, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, I list 45 of the most popular side dishes for polenta.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with polenta are shrimp scampi, skillet meatballs, osso bucco, pan-seared lamb chops, and ratatouille. Try chickpea marsala, asparagus and zucchini salad, tomato confit, or collard greens for more vegetable options. Sauteed mushrooms or berry compote are great for breakfast.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
Crispy baked shrimp scampi
Serve a twist on the traditional shrimp and grits with this crispy scampi.
The panko and parmesan topping will bring some much-needed texture to the meal, and it will come together in just 15 minutes!
The recipe calls for white wine, but you can sub in chicken broth or extra lemon juice.
Why we love this recipe: it’s restaurant quality.
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Baked shrimp scampi
Fire up the grill
Garlic grilled shrimp
Make it Greek-inspired
Saucy Greek baked shrimp
Chickpea mushroom marsala
Do you take part in meatless Mondays? Give this chickpea marsala a try.
Tender chickpeas and mushrooms are cooked in a marsala wine-based sauce, infusing them with a tasty caramelized, nutty flavor.
The sauce is superb spooned over a bed of polenta.
Why we love this recipe: it’s dairy-free and meat-free.
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Chickpea mushroom marsala
Change the flavor
Mushroom and chickpea coconut curry
Another meat-free protein
Baked pesto tofu bites
Spicy collard greens
Take inspiration from Southern cuisine and serve your polenta with a topping of these collard greens.
They’re cooked slowly, making them tender and silky, and have a fiery kick courtesy of the red pepper flakes and hot sauce.
But what makes these extra fabulous is their concentrated broth, which you can drizzle all over your polenta.
Why we love this recipe: it’s nutritious comfort food.
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Spicy collard greens
Make it quick
Southern instant pot collard greens
Make it vegan-friendly
Vegan southern-style collard greens
Turkey meatballs in marinara sauce
Meatballs aren’t just for pasta – they’re superb with polenta too!
The savory meatballs and rich marinara sauce will work perfectly with cheesy polenta.
Their recipe makes the meatballs from scratch, but if you’re in a time crunch, it’s fine to use frozen ones.
Why we love this recipe: it’s excellent for family dinners.
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Skillet meatballs in marinara sauce
Go meat-free
Ricotta zucchini meatballs
Skip the tomato sauce
Swedish meatballs
Berry compote
Fancy a sweet treat for breakfast?
Swirl this blueberry compote into your polenta.
And if you want to go the extra mile, you can mix some coconut or cashew cream in as well for a touch of creaminess.
Why we love this recipe: it lasts for up to a month in the fridge, so you have ages to enjoy it.
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Blueberry compote
Swap the fruit
Stewed strawberries
Make it wintery
Roasted figs
Osso bucco
Turn your polenta into the ultimate comfort meal by topping it with a fresh-off-the-stove osso bucco.
Making this stew isn’t quick or easy, but you’ll be rewarded with fall-off-the-bone beef and a rich, hearty, finger-lickingly good stew.
Psst… make it more traditional by using veal shanks.
Why we love this recipe: it’s budget-friendly.
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Osso bucco
Make it quick
Instant pot osso bucco
Make it vegetarian-friendly
Wild mushroom osso bucco
Tomato confit
Tomato confit are cherry tomatoes that have been slow-roasted in olive oil and herbs.
They’re super juicy and bursting with delectable sweet and acidic flavors that add some complexity to a simple-looking dish.
Pro tip: don’t throw away the leftover oil – you can use it for cooking.
Why we love this recipe: there’s no hands-on cooking, and the prep just takes one minute.
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Tomato confit
Make it quick
Blistered cherry tomatoes with balsamic reduction
Make a salad
Balsamic tomato salad
Sauteed mushrooms
These sauteed mushrooms are an excellent way to add a savory note to your polenta without using meat.
Sauteing them with butter and fresh garlic enhances their natural umami flavors and keeps them juicy.
Pair these with your polenta, a poached egg, and confit tomatoes for a fancy brunch.
Why we love this recipe: it works for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
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Sauteed mushrooms in garlic butter
Make it different
Dried wild mushroom ragu
Make it saucy
Tuscan mushroom sauce
Cioppino
If you’re a seafood lover, this dish is for you.
It’s an Italian dish of shellfish cooked in a light tomato broth. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but trust me, it’s UH-mazing.
Pro-tip: no access to fish stock? Clam juice will work too (and here are some clam juice substitutes)
Why we love this recipe: it will turn your poletna into something extraordinary.
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Cioppino
Make it French-style
Bouillabaisse
Make it simple
Summer vegetable stew
Guacamole
Turn your polenta into a party food by topping it with some guacamole.
This works best with solid polenta, so small polenta cakes that become mini canapes. YUM!
I like to sprinkle on some pico de gallo to.
Psst… you can also use guacamole as a dip for polenta fries.
Why we love this recipe: the jalapenos added in the guac add a spicy kick to your meal.
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Guacamole
Go tropical
Pineapple guacamole
Make it different
Corn salsa
Quick pickled onions
These pickled onions are perfect little palate cleansers.
They have a crisp-tender bite and a sharp flavor – just what you need to cut through all the rich stews that go with polenta.
Why we love this recipe: they will add a nice pop of color to your meal.
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Quick pickled onions
Try another veggie
Quick pickled green beans
Make it fun
Air fryer pickles
Ratatouille
Ratatouille may sound intimidating, but it couldn’t be easier to make.
This recipe calls for cooking each vegetable by themselves first, which ensures that the end result isn’t just a big pile of mush!
It’s a great way of using up old veg too.
Why we love this recipe: it’s naturally healthy and vegan-friendly.
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Ratatouille
Make it fancy
Layered ratatouille
Go Italian
Peperonata
Pan-seared lamb chops
Jazz up date night with a meal of seared lamb chops over a bed of goat cheese polenta.
If you’ve never cooked lamb chops before, don’t worry – the key is to salt your chops generously, use high heat, and baste them with butter to keep them moist (and here’s how to reheat chops)
And don’t forget to spoon some pan juices over your polenta!
Related: what to serve with lamb chops.
Why we love this recipe: it’s so elegant.
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Pan-seared lamb chops
Ditch the stove
Baked lamb chops
Swap the meat
Honey balsamic pork chops
Chicken cacciatore
This rustic, hearty stew is brimming with tangy flavors from tomatoes, olives, and capers.
It’s crying out for some polenta to come and soak up all the sauce.
And it freezes really well, so you can make a big batch and enjoy it next week too!
Why we love this recipe: you can’t go wrong with the classics.
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Chicken cacciatore
Change the flavor
Spanish chicken stew
Skip the chicken
Tofu cacciatore
Grilled asparagus and zucchini salad
To keep things light, try this grilled asparagus and zucchini salad with a lemon basil vinaigrette.
It features a delightful combination of smoky and zesty flavors.
Pro tip: try adding a sprinke of feta to round the dish off.
Why we love this recipe: it’s great for summer.
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Grilled asparagus and zucchini salad
Make it savory
Grilled bacon-wrapped asparagus
Skip the grill
Roasted asparagus and tomatoes
What meat goes well with polenta?
Polenta is a superb side to various meat dishes. I love serving it with pan-seared lamb chops for a fancy meal. But if you want something saucy, try creamy pork tenderloin, Chicken cacciatore, osso bucco, meatballs, or baked shrimp scampi.
The best meat dishes to serve with polenta:
- Pan-seared lamb chops
- Grilled steak
- Creamy mushroom pork tenderloin
- Chicken cacciatore
- Osso bucco
- Skillet meatballs in marinara sauce
- Baked shrimp scampi
What To Serve With Polenta
Ingredients
- 1 portion poletna
Instructions
- Prepare your polenta according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: crispy baked shrimp scampi, chickpea mushroom marsala, spicy collard greens, turkey meatballs in marinara sauce, berry compote, osso bucco, tomato confit, sauteed mushrooms, cioppino, guacamole, quick pickled onions, ratatouille, pan-seared lamb chops, chicken cacciatore, and grilled asparagus and zucchini salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
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